Description: Bombardier's Q Series is a family of turboprop passenger aircraft outstanding by its durability and low noise emissions. These aircraft are also known as de Havilland Dash 8, Dash 8 designation also refers to Q100 model. They operate on regional routes and is enabled for operation at extreme climates such as arctic, tropic or desert. Originally, Dash 8 was the name assigned to this aircraft but in the 1990s Bombardier changed to Q Series to remark it was a quiet aircraft. As of 2005, more than 650 of these aircraft have been sold logging more than 13 million flight hours so far.
Bombardier has developed a family of turboprop aircraft varying the seating capacity from 37- to 70-seat which share a common crew training. Bombardier introduced a new Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system in the Q Series aircraft for enhanced cabin comfort. The NVS system also lowered the noise emissions to unprecedented levels which were deemed as unattainable in the previous generations of turboprop aircraft.
The latest addition to the Q Series, the Q400, represents the aircraft with the greater seating capacity, higher cruise speed of 360 knots, longer fuselage and longer range. Bombardier Q400 can accommodate from 68 to 78 passengers while flying on regional routes. It was specifically targeted at low fare and regional carriers which require an aircraft with lower seat per mile cost. Q400 complements jets flying on routes previously out of reach for turboprop-powered airplanes.
The Q400 turboprop aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A rated at impressive 5,071 shaft horsepower each. The propulsion system includes two high efficiency Dowty Aerospace all-composite, six-bladed propellers. The engines are the key of the Q400 awesome performance compared with other Q Series aircraft and the majority of existing turboprop aircraft. Q400 is available in three models with different maximum gross weight and payload capacity.